Alex Garland’s Ex Machina is just around the corner, and the writer-director has signed up for another project that has us very excited indeed.

Variety reports that the man behind Dreddand Sunshinewill adapt and direct the film of Annihilation, the first book in Jeff VanderMeer’s superb post-apocalyptic Southern Reach trilogy, followed by Authorityand Acceptance.

The first book is centrered on a biologist “seeking answers about her husband’s disappearance in an enivironmental disaster areas sealed off by the government for the last 30 years.” It’s a deeply creepy and atmospheric novel, with a Lovecraftian sense of towering dread. In short, it’s perfect for Garland. The last time he adapted a much-loved sci-fi novel, it was Never Let Me Go, and the results were absolutely superb.